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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice for running mate. Walz – who has also been a member of the US Congress, a high school teacher, and a member of the National Guard – has a traditional, Midwestern background and a liberal record. He signed bills expanding abortion rights and medical care for transgender people as governor and represented a swing district in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, the number of abortions taking place in the US since the coup Roe v. Wade it continued to rise until the beginning of this year, according to a new study. That frustrates abortion opponents, who want more ways to lower the numbers, even if it means banning pregnant women from traveling to other countries.
This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Shefali Luthra of The 19th.
Panelists
Among the takeaways from this week’s show:
- Walz remains active on health issues, including lowering insulin prices, guaranteeing access to abortion and gender-affirming care, and supporting the health of veterans, as well as the efforts of hospital integration. In fact, the similarities between him and Harris highlight the unity among Democrats on important health issues.
- Meanwhile, the GOP vice president, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio said in an interview that reform of the Affordable Care Act would still be on the table if Trump were re-elected, although he did not elaborate. The lack of concrete details in the GOP plans leaves much to be known about what the second Trump administration will do with health policy.
- A recent report shows the number of abortions is increasing amid restrictions. How? Telehealth is the main reason for this trend. And a separate report shows hundreds of millions of tax dollars have been poured into pregnancy centers since the recession. Roe v. Wadeshowing the efforts made by state legislatures that hold to direct funding to anti-abortion centers.
- And Congress left its August recess without supporting the federal government again. Those eyeing other must-pass laws, such as expanded phone conditions and reform of pharmacy benefit managers, are continuing the duck session after the election.
Plus, for “extra credit,” agents are recommending life policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:
Julie Rovner: JAMA Internal Medicine “Health, Access to Care, and Financial Barriers to Care Among US Prison Incarcerated Persons,” by Emily Lupton Lupez; Steffie Woolhandler; David U. Himmelstein; and al.
Shefali Luthra: KFF Health News’ “Inside the 2025 Project: Former Trump Official Describes Radical Change Against Abortion,” by Stephanie Armor.
Sandhya Raman: The War Horse’s “‘I Had a Limb Back’: Post-9/11 Amputee Vets Say VA Care Failed Them,” by Hope Hodge Seck.
Also mentioned in this week’s podcast:
- ProPublica “Texas Sends Millions to Crisis Maternity Centers. It’s Meant to Help Needy Families, But No One Knows If It Works,” by Cassandra Jaramillo, Jeremy Kohler, and Sophie Chou, ProPublica, and Jessica Kegu, CBS News.
- Vox “Free Medical School Won’t Solve Doctor Shortage,” by Dylan Scott.
- Stat’s “How UnitedHealth Turned a Questionable Cardiovascular Program into a Gold Mine,” by Casey Ross, Lizzy Lawrence, Bob Herman, and Tara Bannow.
- The Wall Street Journal’s “The One-Hour Visiting Nurse Lets Insurers Collect $15 Billion From Medicare,” by Anna Wilde Mathews, Christopher Weaver, Tom McGinty, and Mark Maremont.
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